| San Mateo County, CA | November 3, 2015 Election |
 |
General Position StatementBy Catherine MahanpourCandidate for Council Member; City of Foster City |
This information is provided by the candidate | |
This paper represents my position on several issues facing Foster City, including housing, Council decorum, and overcrowded schools.Life is good in Foster City. However, our city is currently experiencing growing pains as evidenced by congested streets, high-rise buildings appearing on every corner, and overcrowded schools. Traffic on East Hillsdale and elsewhere around San Mateo and Foster City during commute times in particular is not conducive to the standard of living to which we have become accustomed. Imagine adding another few thousand vehicles to this mess. Therefore, we need to take a break. Before we consider any additional housing development projects, we must plan our city of the future and start the implementation of that plan. We need a viable long-term vision for our city. A vision that is reflective of our residents' views and desires. What should the city look like in 15-20 years? How will our infrastructure -- sewer, water, streets, emergency services, schools -- handle the additional population? What resources can we call upon to make our city more self-sufficient? As a member of the City Council, I will ensure that our city's infrastructure will support the growth that is now occurring. To remain a vibrant part of the Bay Area, we must make difficult decisions about schools, traffic, emergency services, and population growth. It will take leadership, negotiation, and patience to reach a viable long-term vision, and I can provide that. My platform is based on "Collaboration. Consideration. Community." It will take collaboration with regional resources to attack some of the issues facing our City, such as traffic and the overcrowded schools. As your councilmember, I will work as closely as possible with the regional agencies to provide and implement reasonable solutions to these issues. I support Measure X, the school bond (with reservation). My reservation is based on the vagueness of the bond language. However, the Superintendent of Schools has assured me that Foster City will get its fair share of the funds if the bond measure passes. Rest assured, that I will do everything I can to make that happen. Consideration of other people's opinions and ideas is very important to me. We currently have a City Council that is dysfunctional in its operation such that it is an embarrassment to the City. This needs to change. We need diverse skills and opinions in order to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to our problems. Respectful disagreement is reasonable, but sniping and egocentric behavior is not. Everyone's opinion should be treated with respect and dignity, especially within the formal Chamber setting. The community elects the members of the City Council. The Councilmembers are the voice of the community. They should not be serving on the City Council for self-promotional purposes. The community's best interests should be foremost on the Councilmembers' minds when making important policy decisions that affect us all, which is why the residents of our community should have a say in the future vision for our City. I joined this race because I truly believe I can make a difference. I want to contribute to the future vision of Foster City, and I ask for your help in making that possible. Your voice will be heard if you elect me to the City Council, and, together, we can make a difference and effect change. |
Candidate Page
|| Feedback to Candidate
|| This Contest
November 2015 Home (Ballot Lookup)
|| About Smart Voter
ca/sm Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 12, 2015 17:09
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.